Diocese of

Anuradhapura

Sri Lanka

Continent: South and East Asia

Rite: Roman (Latin)

Type: Diocese Diocese

Name: Anuradhapura / Anuradhapuren(sis) (Latin)

Ecclesiastical Province: Colombo

Neighbouring Dioceses: Chilaw (↙), Mannar (↖), Trincomalee (→), Kurunegala (↓)

Depends on: Dicastery for Evangelisation

Celebrations

Patron Saint: Saint Joseph (March 19)

Liturgical Calendar (Universal) 📅

History

1975.12.19: Established as Apostolic Prefecture of Anuradhapura / Anuradhapuren(sis) (Latin) (from Diocese of Jaffna and Diocese of Trincomalee–Batticaloa and became suffragan of Colombo)
1982.03.18: Promoted as Diocese of Anuradhapura / Anuradhapuren(sis) (Latin)

Present Prelates

Bishop (2025.12.16 – ...):

Bishop Mohottige Nishantha Sagara Jayamanne Don, S.S.S. (55)

Ordinaries

Bishops of Anuradhapura (Roman Rite)

Bishop Mohottige Nishantha Sagara Jayamanne Don, S.S.S. (55)
(2025.12.16 – ...)

Bishop of Anuradhapura (Sri Lanka)

Ex fide in fidem

Born:	1970.06.25 (Bopitiya, Sri Lanka)
Ordained Priest:	2000.05.13
Consecrated Bishop:	2026.02.28

Bishop of Anuradhapura (Sri Lanka) (2025.12.16 – ...)

Bishop Norbert Marshall Andradi, O.M.I. (76)
(2003.11.14 – 2025.12.16)

Bishop emeritus of Anuradhapura (Sri Lanka)

To be always a pilgrim with God’s people

Born:	1949.08.30 (Maggona, Sri Lanka)
Ordained Priest:	1980.05.10
Consecrated Bishop:	2004.01.10

Bishop of Anuradhapura (Sri Lanka) (2003.11.14 – 2025.12.16)

General Secretary of Bishops’ Conference of Sri Lanka (2007 – 2012)

Bishop Oswald Thomas Colman Gomis (later Archbishop)
(1995.11.02 – 2002.07.06)

Born:	1932.12.12 (Kelaniya, Sri Lanka)
Ordained Priest:	1958.02.03
Consecrated Bishop:	1968.07.17
Died:	2023.02.03 (Colombo, Sri Lanka † 90)

Priest of Colombo in Ceylon (Sri Lanka) (1958.02.03 – 1968.04.09)

Titular Bishop of Mulia (1968.04.09 – 1995.11.02)

Auxiliary Bishop of Colombo (Sri Lanka) (1968.04.09 – 1995.11.02)

Bishop of Anuradhapura (Sri Lanka) (1995.11.02 – 2002.07.06)

President of Bishops’ Conference of Sri Lanka (1998 – 2004)

Secretary General of Federation of Asian Bishops’ Conferences (2000 – 2005)

Metropolitan Archbishop of Colombo (Sri Lanka) (2002.07.06 – 2009.06.16)

Bishop Henry Swithin Thomas Alexander Wijetunge Goonewardena, O.M.I.
(1982.03.18 – 1995.11.02)

Born:	1925.07.15 (Dehiwela, Sri Lanka)
Ordained Priest:	1951.03.16
Consecrated Bishop:	1982.07.10
Died:	2000.04.17 (Colombo, Sri Lanka † 74)

Prefect Apostolic of Anuradhapura (Sri Lanka) (1975.12.20 – 1982.03.18)

Bishop of Anuradhapura (Sri Lanka) (1982.03.18 – 1995.11.02)

Prefects Apostolic of Anuradhapura (Roman Rite)

Fr. Henry Swithin Thomas Alexander Wijetunge Goonewardena, O.M.I. (later Bishop)
(1975.12.20 – 1982.03.18)

(see above)

Special Churches

Cathedral: St. Joseph’s Cathedral, Anuradhapura, North Central

Chilaw (↙), Mannar (↖), Trincomalee (→), Kurunegala (↓)

Statistics (2022.12.31)

Area: 10,472 km²

Population: 16,120 Catholics (1.3% of 1,236,380 total)

Pastoral Centres: 15 parishes

Personnel: 17 priests (11 diocesan, 6 religious), 2 deacons, 56 religious (7 brothers, 49 sisters), 3 seminarians

Pastoral Centres

Last updated on 2026.03.30

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